Starspawn of Cthulhu - The Cursed Vision

 

Starspawn of Cthulhu - The Cursed Vision
Self released – 2023
Metal, Doom
Rated: ***

We suddenly realized we are actually in possession of all of the Starspawn of Cthulhu releases and then realized to our utter dismay and horror that we never got around to mentioning any of those four. Four, when you count the Electric Wizard cover Dunwich. We feel horrible and will try to make some sort of amends by at least talking about their newest one The Cursed Vision. Released at the end of January 2023, the album is yet another worthwhile chapter in the book of doom metal the Italian duo Starspawn of Cthulhu is composing. All their albums are based on tales by H.P. Lovecraft and this one focusses on the pain of individual characters from those stories. We submit to the doomed hallucinations for five tracks and almost thirty minutes, and immediately recognize the slumbering take on doom metal for what is it. A way to conjure those ancient horrors to the surface and reveal the pain they bestow upon those tormented individuals. The moments of respite, the opening of The Last Raft for instance, when the slow guitar ditty with its mediaeval touch offers some light and air. The guitar in Black Lotus, with the rising sound behind it, touching on a more gothic approach to doom. They all weave the elements needed to follow the characters through their ordeal. And those vocals, that almost recite, like an elderly town crier, causes the doom metal to almost feel like dangerous whispers in the dark. For lovers Cthulhuism a must hear doom metal tale…  

(Written by JK)

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Fatso Jetson / Dali’s Llama – Legends Of The Desert Vol.3

 

 

Fatso Jetson / Dali’s Llama – Legends Of The Desert Vol.3
Desert Records – 2023
Rock, Stoner, Desert
Rated: *****

I have this weird relationship with split albums and have not reviewed many for Stoner HiVe. I do follow certain split record series, cause on some level they are excellent. Think Ripple Music’s Turned To Stone or The Second Coming Of Heavy chapters. And Desert Records is doing an equally stunning job with its Legends Of The Desert series. Which started off with Palehorse/Palerider & Lord Buffalo. The second installment featured The Penitent Man and Cortége. And now they’ve managed to get two honest to god, bonafide, Legends Of The Desert for the third episode. We’re talking Fatso Jetson and Dali’s Llama here! And both bring their own desert rocking flavor to the split album.

First up is Fatso Jetson with four tracks that meander from desert to blues, to stoner, to punk, to garage and back. A lot of meandering and slow moving rock, that feels orchestral or even orquesta, especially on the two instrumentals. Second track Angels Flight sees punk troubadour, desert pirate and sand poet Sean Wheeler adding his vocals as an extra magical touch.  Opener Night Of The Living Amends, is a slow sailing instrumental rocker that feels warm to the touch and gives off this classic desert rocking feel. With added keywork by Mathias Schneeberger, it also gives off an eighties television series vibe. And then you get hit by Angels Flight, which tells its story as the sun seems to go down on a warm and shimmering city and even though the red glow of the setting sun makes it all seem beautiful, there is woe here, luck running out and a darkness looming. That double voice when the second part of the tale comes in, will tear a rupture through your soul and leave a scar on your heart. Following instrumental rocking Todas Petrol Blues will blow away the emotions from Angels Flight and give you a more Palm Desert and Rancho De La Luna vibe, staccato riffs, robotic drums, all very elusive and yet in your face. One of Seven, the Final Fatso, as languid as the rock might be, the hammer still comes down, or better yet, swings. Even though in this case the meaning of the lyrics might be elusive, the instruments do this very stand fast thing, which makes you think the lyrics might be about facing the music and standing your ground.

Dali’s Llama are always on fire and always provide you with something different than what they did before. We only ever mentioned their Desert Lung EP on the HiVe, which was hundred percent desert punk. This time they get a bit heavier, turning up the blues, the proto touch and even the doom. And like Fatso Jetson they also give us four tracks. Four tracks that immediately show their darker, storm cloud colors with the two openers: Coyotes In The Graveyard and Lizards. Both definitely desert animals that strike hard like a hammer from the gods. And then comes Rarified, a more stoner trucking monster, with delicious bass work and a dead certain destination to get to. That is, until there’s a break in the song, and a bluesy banjo, thanks to Mikael Jacobson, articulates what feels like a summer drizzle that might turn into a full-on down poor any second. Side B and the album ends with Hypnotic Wind, which returns to the more thundering doom approach from the first two Dali’s Llama tracks. And the lyrics of all those Dali’s Llama tracks, brilliant and enchanting.

So as you might have gather from the text and abundance of adjectives above, this is a truly magical desert rock album. Insanely beautiful and overwhelming you with the highly different takes on what desert rock is all about. In short, there will never be a better desert rock split album. The legends turned out something legendary for Legends Of The Desert Vol.3.

(Written by JK)

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Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s
Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

Cradle of Filth
Iron Jinn
Fatso Jetson
Dali Llama
The Machine
Apex Ten
Tao of Lucy
Vermillion Whisky
Snailbones
Okktli
Santo Rostro

It’s the start of the new week! Or does yours start off on another day? And it looks like it might be a good one when it comes to having time to do Stoner HiVe and more. The past week held an interview with Dani Filth about the new Cradle of Filth live album and had me listening to the Top 10 above. Can you do the math? There are eleven bands listed! Indeed, it felt right this way. Because the new Desert Records album Legends Of The Desert Vol.3 has been on heavy rotation over here, featuring Fatso Jetson and Dali Llama, both with four tracks, both amazing four tracks and therefor equally important! Hope to do more for the HiVe later today! Perhaps something about that Legends Of The Desert Split? Have a great week y’all!

Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

 Stoner HiVe’s Quick Fire Friday

It’s still Friday in Hawaii right? Well… We did enjoy that glance back into 2022 we did last week. And hell, we might do that again for a Quick Fire Friday session in the near future… But this time around, we are mentioning singles that we never got around to mentioning in the past few months. And we know… There is so much out there, so much good and heavy stuff, and we just simply cannot ever do it all justice. So here it is. Another Stoner HiVe Quick Fire Friday! And it burns hot like molten lava!

 

Green Hog Band – In The Mist Of The Bong

Starting off with a proper promise and a proper bang! There’s a new Green Hog Band album on the horizon. And In The Mist Of The Bong is the first single and it’s a cracker! The New York trio deliver a doom story of epic proportions, and do this with misty riffs and smokey tones. The voices combine perfectly with that slow and determined doom march. Excellent!

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Endarken - Arise

You in for some metal? Some Sepultura? Well, Danish death/thrashers Endarken deliver a fine cover of Arise for you all. Founded by Dennis Buhl formerly of Hatesphere, the band wanted to treat one of the most loved thrash anthems absolutely right. And therefor got Hatesphere vocalist Mathias Uldall to aid them in their quest to do justice to that legendary song. Judge for yourself!

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Eric Angelo Bessel – Kindly Rewind

The track and video were under embargo till yesterday, the official release date. Which means, this one is actually not old at all, but brand spanking new! It’s called “Kindly Rewind" from Visitation, the debut solo album from visual artist and musician, Eric Angelo Bessel. Composed of eight instrumental songs, Visitation is an atmospheric journey through psychedelic, gothic, and ambient genres. Bessel shares, “Kindly Rewind undulates with the hazy granular flutter of an old tape machine, dotted with sonar beacons, reversed splices, and echoes of an overdubbed orchestral choir.” And it feels like a soundtrack for a space odyssey that still needs to be made…

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Sif – Darkstalker

Darkstalker is the first EP of instrumental blackened doom metal by the New Orleans based solo project Sif. Not much is known about the background of Sif... This self-released three track release fuses crushingly heavy chugging guitar riffs, epic ambient drone, and dread filled explorations of slowly decaying grimdark fantasy worlds. So, don't wait for a full moon, get into dark stalking action right now!

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Void of Light – Enshroud

It’s a two track EP. And the two bring you darkened post metal that will cast a spell over your or at least some kind of damp blanket. It’s called Enshroud and is brought to you by the Glasgow six-piece Void Of Light. It’s out as of March 24th on Trepanation Recordings and will soundscape the hell out of you!

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 Matricide – Obey

Are you looking for some severe pain? Then feast your ears on this neck breaking groove metal from Tel-Aviv. They’re called Matricide and do as much with the groove as they do with the core, and it’s all intense and extreme freaking metal! This quartet knows how to howl you into submission... And you'd better OBEY!

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Upploppet - Thinking of Me

Swedish garage rocking outfit Upploppet’s new single is called Thinking of Me. The Gothenburg based 5-piece announced their collaboration with The Sign Records in late 2022 and launched the single Golden Eyes. Now they return with the explosive hip shaker Thinking of Me, recorded in Welfare Studios by Pontus Robertsson, who also mixed the track, and mastered by Hans Olsson in Svenska Grammofonstudion. They also promise to record a new album this year and make The Sign Records release that as well. Good boys!

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Acid Magus - Caligulater

 

Acid Magus – Caligulater

Smitten with their first single Demon Behemoth, we are giddy with glee to announce their second one called Caligulater! It’s the Acid Magus five and they are back to give us some more! It’s the second single of the their upcoming new album Hope Is Heavy which will be released on Mongrel Records. And it’s dynamite! Go listen below!

Pretoria based South African experimental rock band Acid Magus have been making waves in the music scene since their 2021 debut release Wyrd Syster. The album was well received by international media, with the likes of tastemakers The Sleeping Shaman saying it’s “cracking with both light and darkness, melody and cacophony and worthy of multiple spins on the platter, debut effort and all”.

Now a 5-piece, 2023 sees the band returning stronger than ever with a new vocalist and addition of a second guitarist plus a forthcoming album Hope Is Heavy, set for release in July 2023 via Mongrel Records. New single Caligulater comes off the back of the albums immersive debut single Demon Behemoth which released in February this year.

Continuing the cynical theme established with Demon Behemoth, Caligulater derives its name from the infamous emperor Gaius, otherwise known as Caligula. He was the megalomaniacal third emperor of Rome, a man steeped in violent and sadistic excess. In short, not a cool guy. Guitarist and songwriter Keenan Kinnear delves into the message behind the song, “Caligulater explores my feelings concerning myself and my place in society. My own existential crisis and self-imposed vitriolic outlook on the world when at my worst. The “they” in the main hook, “they made us, betrayed us and enslaved us” can be applied to any subject. It could be Caligula himself concerning the citizens of Rome circa 37 AD or your parents, boss, society as a whole etc. It can even apply to yourself in the end.”

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The Machine – Wave Cannon

 

 

The Machine – Wave Cannon
Majestic Mountain Records – 2023
Rock, Stoner, Psych, Grunge
Rated: *****

I was there for the final farewell show in the Effenaar in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, that said goodbye to founding member and drummer Davy Boogaard. But this right here, that slab of pure gold that has been spinning for the past month, can perhaps be seen as a final salute, a final shot from a cannon, a final monument, sounding taller, wilder, freakier and more intense, like a gigantic balled up fist towards the heavens. Five years after Faceshift, Dutch stoner rocking trio The Machine are back with Wave Cannon and after this release, only guitarist and vocalist David Eering will be left of the original founding three. But before we get to teared-up, we know The Machine goes on, and we know Mr. Eering has implored drummer Klaas Dijkstra to kick ass with the new set-up that also includes bass player Chris Both, who has been present for the past five years. The Machine rolls on, the three continue, and will have six new tracks to add to their already huge back catalogue of songs. Starting Wave Cannon off is the first single called Reversion, which feels like a river of dreams that steadily flows on top off an extra heavy undercurrent, that slowly dissipates into a calm rippling pool of warmth. On many levels you feel a return to what The Machine is and always has been and probably will be about, a steadiness that feels reassuring, a build-up or in this case a decrease in tension that you desperately want to follow, like the white rabbit, deeper into its hole, and a groove that can make you go into a trance. Reversion is seminal The Machine and feels like the perfect way to start Wave Cannon. Second track Genau Or Never starts with sounds from a wooden wind chime, add the drums, that rolling bass and highly floating guitar work, that slowly and surely become this gigantic, but gradual build up and once again brings you a new wave of The Machine goodness. Glider sees them going off into their perhaps most grungy territory to date, which continues on, on the shortest song from the new album, the three minute and thirty five seconds long Ride On Crash Kick. All four of which perhaps serve as the perfect window into the different sides of The Machine, the more hallucinogenic grooves as the two song starter and the more fuzzy and gritty take on stoner trucking with the final two. Return to Sphere (Kneiter II) is another return to form and shimmies up to the opening track of the album in a way that the original Sphere (… or Kneiter) from 2012 never did. Cause that song, always felt like the king hitter on that Calmer Than You Are album and a stand-alone, stoner rock, high water mark of those first five years of The Machine. The new Sphere track, feels like a stoner rocking cosmic adventure, that does not just serve you a head banging groove but also a destination for your mind. The way they let this heavy psych track crackle and pop and show you a melody that feels as elusive as it is recognizable, is simply stunning. It lures you ever deeper into the labyrinthian space, where the pull not only comes in the form of gravity but also from echoing vocals that soar and give it all this highly Siren quality. Calmer Than You Are bringing you back into focus for only a few seconds. And after that middle mark, the way you feel a calm and peaceful silence permeate the structure and the reverb, the slow rippling waves of trickling sound, punctuated by a return of a tender guitar, slowly building again towards what becomes this rocking and funky ending, referencing the original Sphere and Calmer Than You Are even more. Ending the album is title track Wave Cannon, condensing what the first five tracks did and perhaps even what The Machine has done throughout the era’s that David and Davy sailed the seas of heaviness together. Together they delivered an amazing collection of albums that will forever stand tall among all others in this genre we all love. And Wave Cannon is another chapter in that story, a story that sees The Machine turning over a new page. David and Davy, it seems like a lifetime. And even though we are already eager to hear how it will all translate on stage with the new drummer and what the three that are now The Machine might produce on another album in the future, we do feel tears welling up, every time, those final waves of feedback start rolling in and eventually go full stop…  

(Written by JK)

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Okktli – Okktli

 

 

Okktli – Okktli
Self released – 2023
Rock, Hard, Metal, Seventies, Stoner
Rated: ****

We don’t really got there that often, but recently we got pulled into the statistics page for our little blog about heavy rock, started back in 2009. And we noticed that the Number One city from across the globe that houses most of the Stoner HiVe followers is apparently Mexico City! Muchas gracias desde el fondo de mi corazón! And since fourpiece Okktli hails from that wonderous city, we of course had to write a few words of praise about their self-titled, four track release. Okktli brings you a lot of traditional metal and hard rock, that takes its cues from the blues, the seventies, stonerrock and grunge. Indeed, there is proto loving goodness here and it might be most audible on that lovely third track Deny with the extra keywork, bringing it all back to the ‘it’s all happening’ era. But opener The Shaman already sets the tone with that lovely intro and the ominous, doom toned guitars and drums, accompanied by a wonderful vocalist that seems to be able to do many styles with his voice. Eleven minutes long it sports both meaty riffs and airy flourishes that are highly soulful and so subtle it immediately lifts this entire composition to sultry heights. Final song Our Hope Is Gone, with a handful of power chords, almost ballad like vocals and dizzying solo work, will surely become a favorite to many of the Okktli fans. But all of the songs have their quality and manage to rub against a bit of sweet as much as it does to more sour stuff, and all of that makes it one damn fine debut. And one we should all have a drink in honor for... Salud!

(Written by JK)

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Datcha Mandala - Hit & Roll

 

Datcha Mandala - Hit & Roll

Taken from their last EP called The Last Drop, it’s the new video for Dätcha Mandala’s song Hit & Roll! Heavy rock of the classic, bluesy and seventies kind! The Last Drop was released last year through Mrs Red Sound and comes with a mini-documentary entitled 'In Studio With Dätcha Mandala' about the band's recording and creative process. Hit & Roll is irresistible and groovy!

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Stoner HiVe’s Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

 

 

Stoner HiVe’s
Top 10 Most Listened Albums Last Week…

Elefant Talk
Desert Storm
Dryad
Hex A.D.
JAAW
Waste A Saint
Wolfnaut
Parte de Nada
Eye of Aquila
Red Mess

This should have gone up yesterday. But as usual, life got in the way… The above list of bands and their respective albums have ben on heavy rotation over here. As well as quite a few others, cause we still cannot get enough of that Santo Rostro, Hail The Void, Acid King or the new ISAAK. And there are so many other albums about to be released that are equally stunning.. Incredible musical times we live in! It’s been spring time for heavy rock for a long time now, stoner, psych, prog and yes, the doom are all in bloom!

Elefant Talk – Elefant Talk

 

 

Elefant Talk – Elefant Talk
M & O Music – 2021 / 2023
Rock, Stoner, Alternative
Rated: ***

Sure, on some level the album hasn’t completely sunk in yet, and perhaps we are too fast with this little write-up. But whenever a French band hits us up, we sort of feel we need to beat our fellow Doom Charts Contributors Thierry ‘Pumpkin-T’ Francois to the punch and be the first to strike. Just like the two-piece from Chambéry, France does. Indeed, the Elefant Talk duo strikes hard, strikes fast, and do this with a lot catchy bass riffs and pop sensible melodies. Stonerrock, alternative rock and a lot of attitude. The eleven tracks on their debut album move towards Royal Blood as much as it is marrying that Palm Desert sound to something very European. But there’s also something that makes you think of Muse and nineties rock. Combining more progressive almost jazzy drum work with powerful statements and pounding, it’s the driving force behind all the high energy tracks. But there are also those where the duo slow down in tempo like on Leave Me Alone and there they use both drums and bass to just leisurely flow underneath the carrying vocals. And although it’s not completely clear on all of the songs, but it seems most are told from the perspective of animals. On Mass Murder for instance an ant witness the destruction of its home. The second to last song is called The Hunting and features a guitar solo by Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, from Guns ‘N Roses and Sons Of Apollo fame. Final track Time To Go has you rocking back and forth with your eyes closed, before it picks up speed an vigor, slowly building in what surely be a euphoric release. Fascinating to see them close the album with perhaps their most impressive track and leaving you without that enormous release you feel the tracks is promising, leaving you wanting more…

(Written by JK)

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International Premiere - AJEEB - Far Enough

International Premiere!

 Ajeeb – Far Enough

We were honored to bring you their first single of their upcoming new album. And we are equally thrilled to bring you Far Enough! It’s the second single of their Refractions album to be released on March 29th! We’re talking about that grunge sensation AJEEB! The Canary Islands power trio are equally wild on this one and give you more of that alternative rock taste that Hollowed Out already showed you… Only two weeks till the album is out, but you can get as hooked as us by just watching the video below!

Their own words: “'Refractions' smells like alternative rock with high doses of fuzz and reverb. These 11 songs represent a true twist on our debut album 'Toss and Turn' and a new beginning after an extremely complex moment that we were going through... From the lyrics themselves to the way the songs were written, and even the simple fact of recording it completely in analogue, we had the objective to capture our purest and most direct essence. We intend to show that the changes that take place around us end up transforming us and forcing us to evolve from one way or another, depending on the perspective from which you look at it and how we interpret them. 'Refractions' is an album to be listened loud, letting yourself be carried away by the different moods you'll get into.”

AJEEB's new album is coming out via indie label Spinda Records, in collaboration with a bunch of other Spanish labels such as Violence In The Veins, Quebranta Records, Noizeland Records, Hey Boy Hey Girl, Bandera Records, Naife and Hombre Montaña, as well as Clever Eagle Records and The Ghost is Clear Records, both from the US. The impressive artwork is by The Braves Church, based on photographies by Sara GDM and Daniel L. Fleitas.

•    150x STANDARD BLACK VINYL (all labels)
•    150x CLEAR VINYL (all labels)
•    100x COMPACT DISC (Spinda Records)
•    50x CASSETTES (Spinda Records / Clever Eagle Records)

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